Nicholas' Playlist: "For These Times by Martina McBride"

    

  Every time I hear this song. It speaks to me. It really challenges me to be a better human. The lady who wrote the song said it was based off a sermon she heard. Martina McBride released it on her "Waking Up Laughing" album. I want this song to dictate the decisions I make. You never know what someone is going through, and I don't want to be the person that makes someone's day worse. 

    This first stanza talks about how there always seems to be something bad going on in the world and through media we hear about it all. 

In these times in which we live

Where the worst of what we live
Is laid out for all the world on the front page
And the sound of someone's heartbreak
Is a sound bite at the news break
With a close shot of the tears rolling down their face

Blessed be the child who turns a loving eye 

And stops to pray, for these times in which we live.

    This second stanza I think is even more true now then when the song was written and released 15 years ago. I think this country has a real warfare going on right now where we can easily give up freedoms. I don't think we are there quite yet but could be anytime. 

In these most uncertain hours
Where the balance of power
Is a fight that is fought every day
And freedom is a word
Some cry out and some whisper
And some are just too quick to give away
Blessed be the one who stands by the one
On the battle line
For these times in which we live

    These next two lines is truly how I want to live my life. I am far from perfect but I try to do this a little better each day. 

Well give me a heart full of tender mercy
And arms I will open wide

    Sadly, this next stanza we all do to frequently. Nobody knows their neighbors like we used to. 

For these times in which we live

Seems like the only answer is
Giving up on finding one at all
And we hide behind unsure
Pull the blinds and lock the doors
And hang a pleasant picture on the wall

    The end of the song gives us another glimpse of probably how we all should live our lives. 

Blessed is the believer who knows love is our redeemer.
And the only breath of life
For these times in which we live

Give me words full of loving kindness
And hands ready to hold up a light

For these times in which we live.

    What a beautiful song! I call this song the most Christian song that doesn't mention religion at all. 

    
For these times in which we live